As your child becomes more involved in dressing herself, she will become more conscious of the clothes themselves. Babies are largely unaware of what they are wearing as long as it is comfortable and does not impede their activities, but toddlers gradually begin to notice the colors and type of clothing they put on, and your child may develop preferences. Clothes that seem similar to those worn by mommy or daddy might be especially attractive. The feel of a garment will also be important to her whether, for example, it is soft or itchy, tight or stretchy. If she takes a dislike to a garment, it may be because it doesn’t fit properly and is therefore uncomfortable to wear.

Your child’s concerns should be taken seriously when you are buying her clothing. Once your main requirements, which are practical ones – warmth, durability, washability, and cost – are met, there is no reason why you shouldn’t indulge her; the image of a favorite cartoon character or a particular color may be the deciding factor as far as she is concerned. Allowing her to choose which clothes to wear each day is also important. You may want her to wear long pants on a cold day, but let her choose which pair.

She may develop seemingly irrational likes or dislikes for certain items of clothing – insisting on wearing a particular T-shirt every day, for example, or refusing to wear the hand-knitted pullover that Granny gave her for her birthday. The easiest policy is to go along with these preferences as far as possible, though occasionally bribery, or at least negotiation, may be in order: you could offer a special treat in return for wearing that pullover on the afternoon that Granny comes to dinner.

Choosing fastenings

Until your child has enough dexterity to manage buttons and zippers, you need to choose clothes and shoes with manageable fastenings.

Shoes

Velcro fastenings rather than laces or buckles will allow your child to fasten his own shoes very easily.

Now that your baby is more active, you will need to look for clothes that allow easy movement. He will be awake longer, and moving around, so his clothes are more likely to get dirty and you’ll therefore need more of them. You’ll also have to consider whether they are tough enough for the wear and tear that your child will give them: look for sturdy fabrics that last well and strong fastenings that won’t break or fall off. If your baby is crawling, make sure his clothes protect his knees. Once he begins to walk he’ll need shoes.

When you’re buying clothes, check the label to see what kind of material they are made from. Natural fibers are both strong and comfortable, so look for pure cotton or a fabric with a high cotton content. Toweling, denim, and corduroy are all strong and hardwearing. Look, too, for clothes that can be easily pulled down or up once your child is learning how to use the potty, and avoid zippers or complicated fastenings; elastic waists are by far the easiest for him to manage.

Until he’s walking, socks or woolen bootees are all your baby needs, even when he’s crawling. Fabric bootees with elastic at the ankles stay on better. Ensure there’s plenty of room for movement; the bones in your baby’s feet are so soft and pliable that even tightly fitting socks could misshape the toes if worn regularly.

Easy-fitting clothes will give your baby the most comfort and warmth. Pay special attention to the cuffs, ankles, and neck, where fastenings could cause discomfort.

Nightdress

Loose-fitting sleeping garments are comfortable for your newborn baby. A drawstring at the end prevents the nightgown from riding up around her body,  and gives you easy access to her diaper.